STATEMENT OF MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ON PROGRESS MADE BY THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON THE JAMES ZADROGA 9/11 HEALTH AND COMPENSATION ACT

“Today’s approval of key parts of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act by the House Judiciary committee is welcome news and important progress. The first responders, community members and others who got sick as a result of the September 11 World Trade Center terrorist attacks need a long-term national commitment for health care and compensation, and this bill makes that commitment. It would reopen the Victim Compensation Fund, creating an alternative to litigation, while protecting the contractors who were there for the City when we needed them. I want to thank the lead sponsors of this bill, Representatives Jerry Nadler, Carolyn Maloney, Peter King, and Michael McMahon for their efforts, I also want to thank Representatives Weiner, Conyers and Lungren for their work. I am encouraged by today’s vote and I look forward to action by the full House of Representatives.”